Jolly Phonics, Nature Walks, and Review

I found a new phonics program that I LOVE.

Jolly phonics is based out of the UK, 

and used internationally to teach ESL.

Why it isn't used more commonly in the US is beyond me!

Much like the Montessori method of teaching reading,

Jolly Phonics teaches the 42 phonetic sounds

in the English language up front, including digraphs like EE -

and not just the phonetic alphabet.  

It is brilliant, easy to use, and fun.

I got it for Elizabeth mostly, but it's great review for Emilie

and an easier way for her to learn her digraphs.

 There's a motion that accompanies each of the 42 sounds.

 And the real board books (mine is a copy)

has a cut-out to trace the letter (a, below) presented.

 The girls loved dancing around doing the motions!

So we'll be using this for now.

Emilie practicing writing.

She forgets lower case letters and occasionally

writes numbers backwards

so we are working on that.

 Math concept of the day:

Greater than/less than.

Found this balance for $3 at a curric sale yesterday.

 I also found this Robert Louis Stevenson treasure for,

um, 50 cents.

Are you kidding me?!?

 We read a bunch of poems..

they loved it!

{but not more than I did!}

 Absolutely love this particular illustrator.

We do picture studies with them because

they are so worthwhile.

 Eliz working on her S.

 And we went on a nature walk 

on our way to the playground.

We're surrounded by such beauty!

 We saw a lone goose emerging from a pond,

and Emilie said, "I wish I was a baby gosling."

Baby gosling???

I'm constantly amazed how much information

she absorbs!  I certainly did not know a baby goose

was called a gosling when I was 4.

 We saw a picture of a fish on a storm drain

and for the first time in my life I read the inscription.

"Don't throw waste...drains to waterways."

Wow.  Never noticed that.  

We talked about taking care of our environment

and disposing of trash properly!

 And we enjoyed an easter egg hunt yesterday

with the local mom's group.

The girls had fun!

 It's been a good few days.

Here is one last picture of Emilie with Sweetie Pie,

right before the chick pooped on her Easter dress (ugh).

We dropped the chicks off at the farm yesterday.

 I am not sure who is more happy they are gone -- me or Jee!

They were keeping Jee awake at night.

Haha.  It was a fun thing to do, but I think we 

are done with housing animals for awhile.  :-)